Alfeed g



(No Model.)

A. G. WILLIAMS.

CLASP FOR EYEGLASS GASES, &c. v No. 569,267. Patented Oct. 13, 1896.

WITNESSES: j 5 r; 9 I INVENTQR:

NlTED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED G. IVILLIAMS, OF NEIVARK, NEIV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO LOUIS WV. LEVY, OF CASTLETON, AND EDIVARD DREYFUS, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

CLASP FOR EYEGLASS-CASES, 84,0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,267, dated October 13, 1896.

Application filed December 20, 1895. Serial No, 572,726. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED G. WILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States, residing in Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Eyeglass-Cases and other Articles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clasps or catches for eyeglass-cases and other similar articles, as purses, for example, and aims to provide an improved catch or clasp which can be operated by the finger or thumb of the user when it is to be opened and which shall be of simple construction.

To this end in carrying out my invention I provide certain features of improvement, which will be hereinafter fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

WlliCl1 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an eyeglasscase provided with the preferred form of my improved clasp, the case being closed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof, showing the 2 5 case open. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the case open. Fig. 4. is a cross-section of the case closed, showing the position of the thumb and fingers for opening it; and Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the clasp.

0 Referring to the drawings, let A represent the case as a whole, and B the clasp therefor. The case A may be any receptacle having hinged or otherwise suitably-connected sides capable of opening and closing. The case A 3 5 shown is an ordinary eyeglass-case having a convex cover 0 and substantially flat bottom D, each consisting of an inner sheet-metal wall a, covered by a soft or leather covering Z1, which at the edges is turned under and fastened to the metal. The halves or parts of the case are hinged together at d along one side, and they are locked together when in the closed position by the catch B at the other side of the case.

5 The catch 13 is fixed or fastened to one of the parts, preferably to the bottom D, and has a yielding projection snapping over the other part and elastically holding them closed and yielding under an opening force to permit them to open.

According to my invention in its preferred form the catch B is constructed with one or more spring-fingers I, two preferably being employed, and an intermediate inclined wedge-surface J, which, when two fingers are 5 5 employed, preferably fills the space 6 between them and is disposed with equal relation to each. The fingers I and wedge-surface J are preferably formed in a single sheet of metal f, the fingers being at the ends thereof and bent 6o upwardly at substantially right angles, the wedge-surface being at the front edge thereof and consisting of an inwardly-bent portion g of the sheet, and these parts being connected together by an integral body portion h, which is shaped to fit the forward edge of the bottom D and is bent rearwardly underneath the bottom and suitably fastened thereto, as by the rivets 2', which pass through the leather and the sheet metal of the bottom, firmly fasten- 7o ing the catch to the bottom and assisting in retaining the leather covering in place.

The fingers I snap over the adjacent edge of the cover C, holding the cover and bottom together. To receive these fingers, my invention also provides in its preferred form a catch-plate K on the top cover, which is best constructed, as shown, with two projections or shoulders L, bent outwardly from the metal to receive the ends of the fingers I, and with an intermediate wedgesurface M. The latter surface is formed by an inner concave bend of the edge of the metal of the plate K in the space between the shoulders L, and the plate at is upper side has an integral body portion j, connecting the shoulders and wedge rigidly together. The plate is connected by rivets l to the cover, and is best formed with ears m, folding against the inner side of the cover at rear of the shoulders L, through 0 which ears and the cover the rivets pass. The plate is thus clamped against the covering Z) and holds the latter in position on the cover.

The shoulders L are slight convex projec- 5 tions, to engage which the fingers I are best formed with recesses 71. in their inner faces, below which they have substantially straight portions 0, leading downwardly to the body, and when the catch is closed the adjacent 10o edges of the wedges M] and J are substantially in contact, so that practically a complete closure of the case exists across the catch, as shown in Figs. 4: and 5.

In use the case can be held at the hinge with one or more fingers and the point of the thumb can be pressed between the wedged surfaces to free the catch, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. To close the case, the top and bottom coverings will be simply snapped together by a closing pressure,very little force being required to spring the fingers outwardly sufficient to cause them to pass over the rounded lower faces 19 of the shoulders L. To increase or decrease the holding force of the fingers, they will be bent inwardly or outwardly, as desired, and to adapt the wedges for particular uses they will be increased or decreased in angularity by distorting their inner edges outwardly or inwardly. To permit of these adjustments, the fingers and wedge-surfaces are preferably both made adjustable by employing a sheet metal for the plate which can be permanently distorted by bending by the application of an unusual force to it and which will still have sufficient rigidity to keep its shape in ordinary use and sufficient elasticity for the ordinary operations of the fingers.

lVhen the case is provided with a covering b, it is desirable that the catch provisions be formed of separate pieces, as shown, but this is not necessary under other circumstances.

hat I claim is, in clasps or catches for eyeglass-cases and other articles, the followin g-defined novel features and combinations, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth, namely:

1. In clasps, catches and the like, a member having an integral elastic finger carried by one part and engaging another part, and a wedge-surface adjacent to said finger receiving and applying thereto a releasing strain.

2. In clasps, catches and the like, a catch member carried by one part and having two fingers spaced apart and engaging another part, and a wedge-surface between said fingers receiving and transmitting thereto an opening force.

In clasps, catches and the like, a catch consisting of two plates, one adapted for one part and another for another part of an article, and one of said plates having a portion engaging the other plate when the catch is in the locked position, said plates having wedge-surfaces receiving and transmitting a releasing force for freeing the catch.

4. For catches and the like, a metal plate attachable to one part of a case, and having projecting fingers I for engaging another part of acase, a wedge-surface J, and a body 71. carrying said fingers and wedge.

5. For catches and the like, a plate K attachable to one part of a case, and having integral shoulders L for engagement by another part of a case, and a wedge-surface M.

6. In elasps for cases and the like, a case comprising two parts swinging together to close and a part to open, the one having a projecting finger and an adjacent wedge-surface, and the other having an edge engaged by said finger when said parts are in the closed position, said finger then catching said parts closed, and said surface adapted to receive and transmit an opening force to separate said parts.

7. In cases and the like, a case having hinged parts 0 and D, the one having a catch B comprising separated yielding fingers I and an intermediate wedge-surface J, said fingers engaging the edge of the other part and holding the parts in the closed position, and said wedge-surface receiving and transmitting an opening force to release said fingers.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED G. VILLIAM S.

lVitnesses GEORGE I'I. FRASER, THOMAS F. XVALLAOE. 

